Cops: Ellenville man made false insurance claim on auto damage

ELLENVILLE -- An Ellenville man was arrested for fraud after an investigation found that damage he claimed Hurricane Irene caused to his truck was bogus, state police say.

The state Department of Financial Services and state police investigated Paul Albert, 52, for two years after he filed a $3,000 claim that the transmission on his 2003 Dodge Ram pick up truck had water damage from Hurricane Irene, state police say.

An investigation found the damage happened before the storm, state police say.

The claim and the statements he made afterward to the insurance company to back up the claim were false, state police say.

Albert is charged with felony insurance fraud in the third, was arraigned in Wawarsing court and then released on his own recognizance.